WHITE GROUS, OR PTARMIGAN. 671 



Subojenus. — Lagopus. 



Tarsus and toes feathered. Tail of 18 feathers. They moult twice 

 in the year, becoming white in winter, when they are gregarious. 

 They are probably monogamous. 



WHITE GROUS, or PTARMIGAN. 



( Tetrao lagopus, Lin. Lath. Ind. ii. p. 639. sp. 9. Ptarmigan and 

 Rock Grous, idem. Synops. iv. p. 741, et Suppl. i, p. 217. 

 Pennant, Arct. Zool. i. p. 364. No. 184.) 



Sp. Charact. — Bill weak, compressed towards the point j nails 

 subulate, black, and curved ; the male constantly with a black 

 band through the eyes. — Female without the dark acicular band, 

 cicatrice over the eye smaller. — Summer jflumage, above greyish- 

 rufous marked with numerous zig-zag black lines, on the breast 

 and flanks a great number of black feathers, waved with pale ru- 

 fous ; wings, all below the breast, and feet pure white. The fe- 

 male and young less white. 



The Ptarmigan is one among the very few animated 

 beings, which, by choice and instinct, constantly resides 

 in the coldest arctic deserts, and in the lofty mountains 

 of central Europe, where, as the snow begins to melt 

 away, it seeks out its frozen bed by ascending to the 

 limits of eternal ice. Like so many other animals of 

 this inclement boreal region, it is common to both the 

 old and new continent. It is met with in Siberia, Kam- 

 tskatka, Greenland, most parts of northern Europe, the 

 Highlands of Scotland, and even as far south as the roman- 

 tic scenes of the lakes of Cumberland, a few beino- still 

 seen* in the lofty hills which surround the vale of Kes- 

 wick, as well as in Wales. In arctic America, they have 

 been met with as far as it has ever been penetrated. They 

 are also seen in great numbers in the northern parts of 



* Latham in 1783. 



